Bucket tipping apparatus with increased dwell time for bucket in inverted position

Abstract

An apparatus for tipping a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location. The apparatus is characterized by providing a dwell time to the bucket in its inverted position as the bucket is rotated 360 degrees around a fixed pivot degrees to permit complete emptying of the buckets. The apparatus comprises a sprocket mounted concentric with the pivot about which the bucket rotates and fixed for rotation with the bucket. The sprocket has a plurality of radially outwardly-extending uniformly spaced-apart projections and at least one space on the sprocket defined by the absence of a projection. An elongate rack is positioned adjacent the chain at the bucket tipping position and has sprocket engaging portions thereon positioned in engaging alignment with the projections of the sprocket as the bucket passes, thereby to arrest rotation of the bucket while the bucket is in its inverted position to permit the contents to empty entirely.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for tipping a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location, said apparatus characterized by providing a dwell time to the bucket in its inverted position as the bucket is rotated 360 degrees around a fixed pivot degrees to permit complete emptying of the buckets, said apparatus comprising: (a) a sprocket mounted concentric with the pivot about which the bucket rotates and fixed for rotation with the bucket, said sprocket having a plurality of radially outwardly-extending uniformly spaced-apart projections and at least one space on said sprocket defined by the absence of a projection; and   (b) an elongate rack positioned adjacent the chain at the bucket tipping position and having sprocket engaging means thereon positioned in engaging alignment with the projections of the sprocket as the bucket passes thereby to arrest rotation of the bucket while the bucket is in its inverted position to permit the contents to empty entirely.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus for tipping the contents from a bucket according to claim 1, wherein said sprocket has five projections thereon spaced 60 degrees of arc apart, and wherein said space on said sprocket defined by the absence of a projection comprises 120 degrees of arc. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for tipping the contents from a bucket according to claim 2, wherein said sprocket engaging means comprise pins projecting outwardly from the rack into the path of travel of the sprocket, and a dwell space thereon between two of the pins in registration with the space on the sprocket defined by the absence of a projection. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for tipping the contents from a bucket according to claim 3, and including an arresting block positioned in the dwell space on said rack for preventing rotation of the sprocket and the bucket. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for tipping a bucket carried by a conveyor chain around a circuit to empty the contents thereof at a predetermined location, said apparatus characterized by providing a dwell time to the bucket in its inverted position as the bucket is rotated 360 degrees around a fixed pivot to permit complete emptying of the bucket, said apparatus comprising: (a) a sprocket mounted concentric with the pivot about which the bucket rotates and fixed for rotation with the bucket, said sprocket having five projections thereon spaced 60 degrees of arc apart and wherein said space on said sprocket defined by the absence of a projection comprises 120 degrees of arc; and   (b) an elongate rack positioned adjacent the chain at the bucket tipping position and having sprocket engaging means thereon positioned in engaging alignment with the projections of the sprocket as the bucket passes thereby, said sprocket engaging means comprising pins projecting outwardly from the rack into the path of travel of the sprocket, and a dwell space thereon between two of the pins in registration with the space on the sprocket defined by the absence of a projection, and including means for cooperating with the space on the sprocket defined by the absence of the projection to arrest the rotation of the bucket while the bucket is in its inverted position to permit the contents to empty entirely.